During the advance balloting in January 2005, held ahead of the February general election, 672,469 voters cast ballots.

Some 24,832 Thais living abroad voted at Thai missions in the foreign countries, while 103,604 are registered to vote in advance, said Anucha Osathanond, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Consular Affairs Department. Last year's overseas advance turnout was 85,931.

Coordinator of the People's Network for Elections in Thailand (P-Net) Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's decision to dissolve the House might not have been made with a democratic conscience but people knew voting was a duty.

"When there is an election, eligible voters have to vote. Therefore, a high voter turnout has no political implication," he said.

He also urged members of the People's Alliance for Democracy to use their votes. "I will go to the polls on Sunday because it is my duty in the democracy. I'll do it although I disagree with the snap election and I want the Election Commission to postpone it," he said.

However, EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp said yesterday that the commission had decided to go ahead with the April 2 election because it had to follow the royal approval for dissolution of Parliament.

The EC decision was reached after a discussion on the call from a group of senators to to

postpone the election indefinitely.

Asked about fears of an insufficient quorum for the opening session of the new House if the election is held as scheduled, Vasana said, "The EC has to conduct the election, which is our duty. When the election is completed it is Parliament's duty to hold the opening session."

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation